Boss hails desire after Dons are downed
The Blues were left shell-shocked by Exeter’s equaliser seconds from full-time the previous week.
But they managed to hold on for all three points when AFC Wimbledon visited Fratton Park.
Ryan Taylor’s header early in the second half was enough to secure victory, despite the Dons pouring forward in the closing stages.
And Richie Barker felt that is what his side deserved following a spirited performance that lifted Pompey seven points clear of the drop zone.
The Blues boss said: “I have to give credit to the players – especially in the last 10 minutes when Wimbledon threw everything at us.
“There was a fantastic attitude and mental desire to make sure we won that game.
“With the way they threw themselves in the way of everything, I think we deserved the win.
“Daniel Alfei put in a great delivery and it was a brave header from Ryan – it probably deserved to win a football match.”
Both sides had to deal with the atrocious conditions, as Fratton Park was battered by strong winds and driving rain.
Barker said: “It was just our luck. We kicked against a really strong wind in the first half and then it died down in the second half.
“But we were lucky to get the game on. The pitch is a real mess now and the rain throughout the game didn’t help it.
“It wasn’t a particularly entertaining game, but those conditions were never going to lend themselves to that.
“The most important thing was that we showed enough desire to see things through.”